US5189471A - Image forming apparatus with slidably mounted developing unit and photoconductive unit - Google Patents

Image forming apparatus with slidably mounted developing unit and photoconductive unit Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US5189471A
US5189471A US07/534,148 US53414890A US5189471A US 5189471 A US5189471 A US 5189471A US 53414890 A US53414890 A US 53414890A US 5189471 A US5189471 A US 5189471A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
unit
developing unit
photoconductor unit
photoconductor
image forming
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US07/534,148
Inventor
Kouichi Irihara
Yukinori Andou
Yuhi Yui
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Sharp Corp
Original Assignee
Sharp Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Sharp Corp filed Critical Sharp Corp
Assigned to SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA reassignment SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: ANDOU, YUKINORI, IRIHARA, KOUICHI, YUI, YUHI
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US5189471A publication Critical patent/US5189471A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
    • G03G21/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements
    • G03G21/18—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements using a processing cartridge, whereby the process cartridge comprises at least two image processing means in a single unit
    • G03G21/1803—Arrangements or disposition of the complete process cartridge or parts thereof
    • G03G21/1817—Arrangements or disposition of the complete process cartridge or parts thereof having a submodular arrangement
    • G03G21/1821—Arrangements or disposition of the complete process cartridge or parts thereof having a submodular arrangement means for connecting the different parts of the process cartridge, e.g. attachment, positioning of parts with each other, pressure/distance regulation
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
    • G03G21/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements
    • G03G21/1604—Arrangement or disposition of the entire apparatus
    • G03G21/1623—Means to access the interior of the apparatus
    • G03G21/1628—Clamshell type
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
    • G03G21/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements
    • G03G21/1642—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements for connecting the different parts of the apparatus
    • G03G21/1647—Mechanical connection means
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
    • G03G21/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements
    • G03G21/1661—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements means for handling parts of the apparatus in the apparatus
    • G03G21/1676—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements means for handling parts of the apparatus in the apparatus for the developer unit
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G21/00—Arrangements not provided for by groups G03G13/00 - G03G19/00, e.g. cleaning, elimination of residual charge
    • G03G21/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements
    • G03G21/18—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements using a processing cartridge, whereby the process cartridge comprises at least two image processing means in a single unit
    • G03G21/1839—Means for handling the process cartridge in the apparatus body
    • G03G21/1842—Means for handling the process cartridge in the apparatus body for guiding and mounting the process cartridge, positioning, alignment, locks
    • G03G21/1853—Means for handling the process cartridge in the apparatus body for guiding and mounting the process cartridge, positioning, alignment, locks the process cartridge being mounted perpendicular to the axis of the photosensitive member
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G2221/00—Processes not provided for by group G03G2215/00, e.g. cleaning or residual charge elimination
    • G03G2221/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements and complete machine concepts
    • G03G2221/1606—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements and complete machine concepts for the photosensitive element
    • G03G2221/1609—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements and complete machine concepts for the photosensitive element protective arrangements for preventing damage
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G2221/00—Processes not provided for by group G03G2215/00, e.g. cleaning or residual charge elimination
    • G03G2221/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements and complete machine concepts
    • G03G2221/1651—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements and complete machine concepts for connecting the different parts
    • G03G2221/1654—Locks and means for positioning or alignment
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G2221/00—Processes not provided for by group G03G2215/00, e.g. cleaning or residual charge elimination
    • G03G2221/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements and complete machine concepts
    • G03G2221/1678—Frame structures
    • G03G2221/1687—Frame structures using opening shell type machines, e.g. pivoting assemblies
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G2221/00—Processes not provided for by group G03G2215/00, e.g. cleaning or residual charge elimination
    • G03G2221/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements and complete machine concepts
    • G03G2221/18—Cartridge systems
    • G03G2221/183—Process cartridge
    • G03G2221/1853—Process cartridge having a submodular arrangement
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G2221/00—Processes not provided for by group G03G2215/00, e.g. cleaning or residual charge elimination
    • G03G2221/16—Mechanical means for facilitating the maintenance of the apparatus, e.g. modular arrangements and complete machine concepts
    • G03G2221/18—Cartridge systems
    • G03G2221/183—Process cartridge
    • G03G2221/1853—Process cartridge having a submodular arrangement
    • G03G2221/1876—Process cartridge having a submodular arrangement for production purposes, e.g. manufacture or mass production

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus which comprises detachable process-units such as a photoconductor unit, a developing unit, and the like, each of which integrally contains components and consumable supplies associated with each other for performing each step of the image-forming process, so that the replacement of such components and consumable supplies can be performed simply by replacing the corresponding process-unit.
  • detachable process-units such as a photoconductor unit, a developing unit, and the like
  • image forming apparatuses such as electrostatic process copying machines have been developed which comprise process-units such as a photoconductor unit, a developing unit, etc., so that the components and consumable supplies contained therein can be replaced with ease at the user side, simply by replacing the process-unit.
  • FIG. 3 shows a typical image-forming apparatus of this type, wherein a photoconductive drum 11, a charger 12, and a cleaner 13 constitute a photoconductor unit 14, while a toner hopper 15 and a developer tank 16 make up a developing unit 17.
  • the photoconductor unit 14 and the developing unit 17 are both supported on a rail 18.
  • a door 19 provided on one side of the apparatus i.e., on the right side in FIG. 3 can be opened to rest in a position indicated by the two-dot dash lines. The door 19 is opened when the developing unit 17 and the photoconductor unit 14 are to be removed for replacement.
  • image forming apparatuses for which components and consumable supplies can be replaced as process-units by the user are designed in compact size, making full and effective use of the machine's internal space and leaving hardly any idle space therein. This has in turn restricted the space for the replacement of the developing unit 17, the photoconductor unit 14, etc., thereby making it difficult for the user to replace them and giving rise to a possibility of damaging adjacent components during the replacement work.
  • Such problems have been particularly easy to arise when replacing the photoconductor unit 14 which is installed in the middle part of the copying machine because it requires work deep inside the machine.
  • the image forming apparatus of this invention which overcomes the above-discussed and numerous other disadvantages and deficiencies of the prior art, comprises: a developing unit disposed in a body; a photoconductor unit disposed in said body; a rail on which said developing unit and said photoconductor unit are slidably mounted adjacent to each other, allowing the developing unit and the photoconductor unit to be successively pulled out of said body; and an urging member for urging said photoconductor unit toward said developing unit.
  • the developing unit is urged at one end thereof by the photoconductor unit toward a positioning member which is provided at the other end and slidably engaged with the rail, said positioning member being locked at a predetermined position of said rail so as to keep said developing unit in a fixed position.
  • the body of the apparatus comprises an upper housing and a lower housing, said upper housing being pivotably connected to said lower housing at a fulcrum located on one side of said body, thereby allowing said upper housing to be swung upward about said fulcrum away from said lower housing.
  • the developing unit and the photoconductor unit are successively pulled out of the body in that order in a direction away from the fulcrum.
  • the invention described herein makes possible the objectives of (1) providing an image forming apparatus in which the replacement of the photoconductor unit can readily be carried out in a large space; (2) providing an image forming apparatus in which the replacement of the photoconductor unit can be carried out without damaging the other components adjacent thereto; and (3) providing an image forming apparatus in which the developing unit and the photoconductor unit are accurately positioned with respect to the other components in the body of the apparatus.
  • FIG. 1 is a sectional side elevation of an image forming apparatus of the invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1 at the time when a developing unit and a photoconductor unit are being removed for replacement.
  • FIG. 3 is a sectional side elevation of a conventional image forming apparatus.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 show an image forming apparatus of the present invention, which comprises a photoconductor unit 1, a developing unit 2, and a rail 18 on which the units 1 and 2 are slidably mounted adjacent to each other, in such a manner that they can be successively slid in the direction in which they are to be pulled out of the body 20 of the apparatus (i.e., toward the right in FIG. 1), for the replacement.
  • the apparatus further comprises a stopper 3 attached to the body 20 and located at the left side of the photoconductor unit 1. Between the photoconductor unit 1 and the stopper 3 is disposed an urging member 4 comprising a spring which urges the photoconductor unit 1 toward the developing unit 2.
  • the photoconductor unit 1 to urge the developing unit 2 toward the right in FIG. 1.
  • a positioning member 5 which is slidably engaged with the rail 18.
  • the positioning member 5 is locked at a predetermined position of the rail 18 to serve as a stopper against the urging force of the urging member 4. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the developing unit 2, which is urged toward the right by the photoconductor unit 1, is locked in a predetermined position by the positioning member 5.
  • the combination of the urging member 4 and the positioning member 5 accurately positions both the photoconductor unit 1 and the developing unit 2, with respect to the other components within the body 20 such as an optical unit 6, a transfer charger 7, and the like.
  • the body 20 of the image forming apparatus comprises an upper housing 21 and a lower housing 22.
  • the upper housing 21 is pivotably connected to the lower housing 22 at a fulcrum 8 located on the left side of the body 20 so that the upper housing 21 can be swung upward about the fulcrum 8 away from the lower housing 22, as shown in FIG. 2.
  • the replacement of the photoconductor unit 1 and the developing unit 2 is carried out, as will be described below.
  • a door 19 provided on the right side of the body 20 is opened and then the upper housing 21 is lifted upward as described above, forming an opening between the upper and lower housings 21 and 22 at the right side of the body 20.
  • the positioning member 5 which positions the developing unit 2 in place is then removed, and the developing unit 2 is pulled out along the rail 18 in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2, which allows the photoconductor unit 1 to be also pushed in the direction of arrow A due to the urging force of the urging member 4. Therefore, the photoconductor unit 1 can be pulled out from a position near the opening formed between the upper and lower housings 21 and 22, where space is not restricted. This facilitates the removal of the photoconductor unit 1 and prevents it from touching and damaging the optical unit 6, the transfer charger 7, and the other adjacent components.
  • the photoconductor unit 1 is first mounted, and then, the developing unit 2 is pushed in and locked in position using the positioning member 5. In this situation, the positioning of the two units 1 and 2 is done by the urging member 4 and the positioning member 5. Therefore, a separate positioning member need not be attached to the photoconductor unit 1, thereby simplifying the process of manufacturing the image forming apparatus.
  • the urging member pushes the photoconductor unit in the direction in which the unit is to be pulled out. This allows the removal of the photoconductor unit to be carried out in a large space located at a position far outward of the mounting position thereof, thereby facilitating the work for the removal and also preventing the photoconductor unit from touching and damaging the other components adjacent thereto inside the body of the apparatus.
  • the photoconductor unit when installed in the body of the apparatus, the photoconductor unit is urged toward the developing unit by the urging member and the developing unit is locked in a predetermined position by the positioning member, so that the two units can be kept in position with respect to the other components within the body of the apparatus.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Vision & Pattern Recognition (AREA)
  • Discharging, Photosensitive Material Shape In Electrophotography (AREA)
  • Electrophotography Configuration And Component (AREA)

Abstract

An image forming apparatus shown has a developing unit and a photoconductor unit both of which are disposed in a body. The developing unit and photoconductor unit are slidably mounted adjacent to each other within the body. The mounting and positioning of the units are such as to allow the developing unit and the photoconductor unit to be successively pulled out of the body. The apparatus further includes an urging member which allows the photoconductor unit to be urged toward the developing unit. The body includes upper and lower housings and is designed so that the upper housing can be swung upward about a fulcrum on one side of the body and thereby form an opening between the upper and lower housings on the other side of the body. The apparatus is designed and the components are configured such that when the developing unit is pulled out of the body the photoconductor unit moves toward the opening and the photoconductor unit can be replaced in a large open space near the opening.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus which comprises detachable process-units such as a photoconductor unit, a developing unit, and the like, each of which integrally contains components and consumable supplies associated with each other for performing each step of the image-forming process, so that the replacement of such components and consumable supplies can be performed simply by replacing the corresponding process-unit.
2. Description of the prior art
With the recent increase of personal use, image forming apparatuses such as electrostatic process copying machines have been developed which comprise process-units such as a photoconductor unit, a developing unit, etc., so that the components and consumable supplies contained therein can be replaced with ease at the user side, simply by replacing the process-unit.
FIG. 3 shows a typical image-forming apparatus of this type, wherein a photoconductive drum 11, a charger 12, and a cleaner 13 constitute a photoconductor unit 14, while a toner hopper 15 and a developer tank 16 make up a developing unit 17. The photoconductor unit 14 and the developing unit 17 are both supported on a rail 18. A door 19 provided on one side of the apparatus (i.e., on the right side in FIG. 3) can be opened to rest in a position indicated by the two-dot dash lines. The door 19 is opened when the developing unit 17 and the photoconductor unit 14 are to be removed for replacement.
Generally, image forming apparatuses for which components and consumable supplies can be replaced as process-units by the user are designed in compact size, making full and effective use of the machine's internal space and leaving hardly any idle space therein. This has in turn restricted the space for the replacement of the developing unit 17, the photoconductor unit 14, etc., thereby making it difficult for the user to replace them and giving rise to a possibility of damaging adjacent components during the replacement work. Such problems have been particularly easy to arise when replacing the photoconductor unit 14 which is installed in the middle part of the copying machine because it requires work deep inside the machine.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The image forming apparatus of this invention, which overcomes the above-discussed and numerous other disadvantages and deficiencies of the prior art, comprises: a developing unit disposed in a body; a photoconductor unit disposed in said body; a rail on which said developing unit and said photoconductor unit are slidably mounted adjacent to each other, allowing the developing unit and the photoconductor unit to be successively pulled out of said body; and an urging member for urging said photoconductor unit toward said developing unit.
In a preferred embodiment, the developing unit is urged at one end thereof by the photoconductor unit toward a positioning member which is provided at the other end and slidably engaged with the rail, said positioning member being locked at a predetermined position of said rail so as to keep said developing unit in a fixed position.
In a preferred embodiment, the body of the apparatus comprises an upper housing and a lower housing, said upper housing being pivotably connected to said lower housing at a fulcrum located on one side of said body, thereby allowing said upper housing to be swung upward about said fulcrum away from said lower housing.
In a preferred embodiment, the developing unit and the photoconductor unit are successively pulled out of the body in that order in a direction away from the fulcrum.
Thus, the invention described herein makes possible the objectives of (1) providing an image forming apparatus in which the replacement of the photoconductor unit can readily be carried out in a large space; (2) providing an image forming apparatus in which the replacement of the photoconductor unit can be carried out without damaging the other components adjacent thereto; and (3) providing an image forming apparatus in which the developing unit and the photoconductor unit are accurately positioned with respect to the other components in the body of the apparatus.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
This invention may be better understood and its numerous objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying drawings as follows:
FIG. 1 is a sectional side elevation of an image forming apparatus of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1 at the time when a developing unit and a photoconductor unit are being removed for replacement.
FIG. 3 is a sectional side elevation of a conventional image forming apparatus.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIGS. 1 and 2 show an image forming apparatus of the present invention, which comprises a photoconductor unit 1, a developing unit 2, and a rail 18 on which the units 1 and 2 are slidably mounted adjacent to each other, in such a manner that they can be successively slid in the direction in which they are to be pulled out of the body 20 of the apparatus (i.e., toward the right in FIG. 1), for the replacement. The apparatus further comprises a stopper 3 attached to the body 20 and located at the left side of the photoconductor unit 1. Between the photoconductor unit 1 and the stopper 3 is disposed an urging member 4 comprising a spring which urges the photoconductor unit 1 toward the developing unit 2. This naturally causes the photoconductor unit 1 to urge the developing unit 2 toward the right in FIG. 1. On the other hand, provided on the right end of the developing unit 2 is a positioning member 5 which is slidably engaged with the rail 18. The positioning member 5 is locked at a predetermined position of the rail 18 to serve as a stopper against the urging force of the urging member 4. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the developing unit 2, which is urged toward the right by the photoconductor unit 1, is locked in a predetermined position by the positioning member 5. In this way, the combination of the urging member 4 and the positioning member 5 accurately positions both the photoconductor unit 1 and the developing unit 2, with respect to the other components within the body 20 such as an optical unit 6, a transfer charger 7, and the like.
The body 20 of the image forming apparatus comprises an upper housing 21 and a lower housing 22. The upper housing 21 is pivotably connected to the lower housing 22 at a fulcrum 8 located on the left side of the body 20 so that the upper housing 21 can be swung upward about the fulcrum 8 away from the lower housing 22, as shown in FIG. 2. In this state, the replacement of the photoconductor unit 1 and the developing unit 2 is carried out, as will be described below.
When the photoconductor unit 1 and the developing unit 2 are to be replaced with new ones, a door 19 provided on the right side of the body 20 is opened and then the upper housing 21 is lifted upward as described above, forming an opening between the upper and lower housings 21 and 22 at the right side of the body 20. The positioning member 5 which positions the developing unit 2 in place is then removed, and the developing unit 2 is pulled out along the rail 18 in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2, which allows the photoconductor unit 1 to be also pushed in the direction of arrow A due to the urging force of the urging member 4. Therefore, the photoconductor unit 1 can be pulled out from a position near the opening formed between the upper and lower housings 21 and 22, where space is not restricted. This facilitates the removal of the photoconductor unit 1 and prevents it from touching and damaging the optical unit 6, the transfer charger 7, and the other adjacent components.
To install the photoconductor unit 1 and the developing unit 2, the photoconductor unit 1 is first mounted, and then, the developing unit 2 is pushed in and locked in position using the positioning member 5. In this situation, the positioning of the two units 1 and 2 is done by the urging member 4 and the positioning member 5. Therefore, a separate positioning member need not be attached to the photoconductor unit 1, thereby simplifying the process of manufacturing the image forming apparatus.
As described above, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when the developing unit is pulled out of the body of the apparatus, the urging member pushes the photoconductor unit in the direction in which the unit is to be pulled out. This allows the removal of the photoconductor unit to be carried out in a large space located at a position far outward of the mounting position thereof, thereby facilitating the work for the removal and also preventing the photoconductor unit from touching and damaging the other components adjacent thereto inside the body of the apparatus. Also, when installed in the body of the apparatus, the photoconductor unit is urged toward the developing unit by the urging member and the developing unit is locked in a predetermined position by the positioning member, so that the two units can be kept in position with respect to the other components within the body of the apparatus.
It is understood that various other modifications will be apparent to and can be readily made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the scope of the claims appended hereto be limited to the description as set forth herein, but rather that the claims be construed as encompassing all the features of patentable novelty that reside in the present invention, including all features that would be treated as equivalents thereof by those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains

Claims (3)

What is claimed is:
1. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
a developing unit disposed in a body;
a photoconductor unit disposed in the body;
a rail on which the developing unit and the photoconductor unit are slidably mounted adjacent to each outer, the developing unit and photoconductor unit being mounted in such a manner so as to allow the developing unit and the photoconductor unit to be successively pulled out of the body;
an urging member for urging the photoconductor unit and the developing unit toward the direction in which the photoconductor unit and the developing unit are pulled out of the body; and
a positioning member slidably engaged with the rail and lockable at a position on the rail so as to maintain the developing unit in a fixed position, the developing unit being urged at one end by the photoconductor unit toward the positioning member.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said body comprises an upper housing and a lower housing, said upper housing being pivotably connected to said lower housing at a fulcrum located on one side of said body, thereby allowing said upper housing to be swung upward about said fulcrum away from said lower housing.
3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said developing unit and said photoconductor unit are successively pulled out of said body in that order in the direction away from said fulcrum.
US07/534,148 1989-06-07 1990-06-06 Image forming apparatus with slidably mounted developing unit and photoconductive unit Expired - Lifetime US5189471A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP1989067072U JPH066376Y2 (en) 1989-06-07 1989-06-07 Image forming device
JP1-67072[U] 1989-06-07

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US5189471A true US5189471A (en) 1993-02-23

Family

ID=13334296

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US07/534,148 Expired - Lifetime US5189471A (en) 1989-06-07 1990-06-06 Image forming apparatus with slidably mounted developing unit and photoconductive unit

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US5189471A (en)
JP (1) JPH066376Y2 (en)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0579168A2 (en) * 1992-07-13 1994-01-19 Mita Industrial Co. Ltd. A paper feeding device having paper inverting means
EP0579167A2 (en) * 1992-07-13 1994-01-19 Mita Industrial Co. Ltd. An image forming apparatus capable of opening a main body on one side
US20040016913A1 (en) * 2002-07-25 2004-01-29 Sognefest Peter W. Radiation detector assembly
US20070104530A1 (en) * 2005-11-07 2007-05-10 Masato Tamehira Image forming apparatus having unit housing permitting mechanism
US20070247511A1 (en) * 2006-04-19 2007-10-25 Lexmark International, Inc. Architectures for multi-functional image forming devices
US20070248377A1 (en) * 2006-04-19 2007-10-25 Lexmark International, Inc. Architecture for an image-forming device
US7986911B2 (en) 2007-03-28 2011-07-26 Lexmark International, Inc. Architecture for a media feeding option for an image forming device

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3998537A (en) * 1974-11-20 1976-12-21 Xerox Corporation Split developer housing with interlocked flow gate and catch
US4096826A (en) * 1976-05-21 1978-06-27 Xerox Corporation Magnetic brush development system for flexible photoreceptors
US4279496A (en) * 1979-05-21 1981-07-21 Xerox Corporation Belt support system
US4325626A (en) * 1978-12-13 1982-04-20 Mita Industrial Co., Ltd. Electrostatic copying apparatus
US4327992A (en) * 1980-07-10 1982-05-04 Apeco Corporation Driving arrangement for photocopy machine
US4634264A (en) * 1983-11-25 1987-01-06 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Photosensitive member of recording apparatus
US4873548A (en) * 1985-06-06 1989-10-10 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Image forming apparatus comprising a main assembly having a top frame adapted to swing open and closed with respect to a bottom frame and having process cartridge detachably mounted in the main assembly
US4951093A (en) * 1987-12-18 1990-08-21 Konica Corporation Developing unit for an electrostatic recording apparatus

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3998537A (en) * 1974-11-20 1976-12-21 Xerox Corporation Split developer housing with interlocked flow gate and catch
US4096826A (en) * 1976-05-21 1978-06-27 Xerox Corporation Magnetic brush development system for flexible photoreceptors
US4325626A (en) * 1978-12-13 1982-04-20 Mita Industrial Co., Ltd. Electrostatic copying apparatus
US4279496A (en) * 1979-05-21 1981-07-21 Xerox Corporation Belt support system
US4327992A (en) * 1980-07-10 1982-05-04 Apeco Corporation Driving arrangement for photocopy machine
US4634264A (en) * 1983-11-25 1987-01-06 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Photosensitive member of recording apparatus
US4873548A (en) * 1985-06-06 1989-10-10 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Image forming apparatus comprising a main assembly having a top frame adapted to swing open and closed with respect to a bottom frame and having process cartridge detachably mounted in the main assembly
US4951093A (en) * 1987-12-18 1990-08-21 Konica Corporation Developing unit for an electrostatic recording apparatus

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0579168A2 (en) * 1992-07-13 1994-01-19 Mita Industrial Co. Ltd. A paper feeding device having paper inverting means
EP0579167A2 (en) * 1992-07-13 1994-01-19 Mita Industrial Co. Ltd. An image forming apparatus capable of opening a main body on one side
EP0579167A3 (en) * 1992-07-13 1994-08-24 Mita Industrial Co Ltd An image forming apparatus capable of opening a main body on one side
EP0579168A3 (en) * 1992-07-13 1995-05-03 Mita Industrial Co Ltd A paper feeding device having paper inverting means.
US5456456A (en) * 1992-07-13 1995-10-10 Mita Industrial Co., Ltd. Paper feeding device having paper inverting means
US20040016913A1 (en) * 2002-07-25 2004-01-29 Sognefest Peter W. Radiation detector assembly
US20070104530A1 (en) * 2005-11-07 2007-05-10 Masato Tamehira Image forming apparatus having unit housing permitting mechanism
US7658563B2 (en) * 2005-11-07 2010-02-09 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Image forming apparatus having unit housing permitting mechanism
US20070247511A1 (en) * 2006-04-19 2007-10-25 Lexmark International, Inc. Architectures for multi-functional image forming devices
US20070248377A1 (en) * 2006-04-19 2007-10-25 Lexmark International, Inc. Architecture for an image-forming device
US7639965B2 (en) 2006-04-19 2009-12-29 Lexmark International, Inc. Architecture for an image-forming device
US7675536B2 (en) 2006-04-19 2010-03-09 Lexmark International, Inc. Architectures for multi-functional image forming devices
US7986911B2 (en) 2007-03-28 2011-07-26 Lexmark International, Inc. Architecture for a media feeding option for an image forming device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPH066376Y2 (en) 1994-02-16
JPH036642U (en) 1991-01-23

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4588280A (en) Image forming apparatus and process unit detachably mountable thereto
JPH07199568A (en) Image-forming device
US5189471A (en) Image forming apparatus with slidably mounted developing unit and photoconductive unit
US4811050A (en) Apparatus for the forming of images with a cleaning device for a corona wire
US5353100A (en) Image apparatus with removable process kit rotatable about a photoreceptor shaft
JPH0425543B2 (en)
KR20040003379A (en) OPC unit exchanging apparatus
JPH0356471B2 (en)
JPH0425542B2 (en)
JPH02120867A (en) Image forming unit
US9927766B2 (en) Removable unit and image forming apparatus therewith
JP2010107607A (en) Image forming apparatus and unit
JPH0432384B2 (en)
JPS5984260A (en) Picture forming device
JPH08190284A (en) Image forming device and transfer device therefor
JP3283062B2 (en) Image forming device
KR930003693Y1 (en) Laser printer drum cartridge and developer mounting device
JPH0635247A (en) Structure for attaching protective cover for image carrier
JPS6014249A (en) Image forming device
JPH07121088A (en) Process cartridge and image forming device
JP2523589B2 (en) Image forming device
JPS60185966A (en) Image carrier protecting device of copying machine
JPH01297664A (en) Electrostatic recorder
JPH07140879A (en) Process cartridge for electrophotographic device
JPS60131558A (en) Structure of image formation part in copying machine

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA, JAPAN

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNORS:IRIHARA, KOUICHI;ANDOU, YUKINORI;YUI, YUHI;REEL/FRAME:005329/0012

Effective date: 19900525

STCF Information on status: patent grant

Free format text: PATENTED CASE

CC Certificate of correction
FEPP Fee payment procedure

Free format text: PAYOR NUMBER ASSIGNED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: ASPN); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY

FPAY Fee payment

Year of fee payment: 4

FEPP Fee payment procedure

Free format text: PAYER NUMBER DE-ASSIGNED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: RMPN); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY

Free format text: PAYOR NUMBER ASSIGNED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: ASPN); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY

FPAY Fee payment

Year of fee payment: 8

FPAY Fee payment

Year of fee payment: 12